Fantasy Football: 3 Waiver-Wire Must-Haves to Help You Reach the Championship

We are now approaching the final weeks of the 2012 fantasy football season. In some leagues, the playoff teams are already set in stone, while in many others it's a vicious fight to the postseason. If you are one of those owners who are in must-win situations this upcoming week, there are quite a few waiver-wire options to choose from that may very well save your season.

Even if you have already clinched the playoffs, you should not hesitate to make a few tweaks to your roster to ensure maximum efficiency. It's foolish to keep a struggling player on your squad, even if they are a rather big name, because at this point in the season, unfamiliar under-the-radar players are assuming larger roles and contributing in major ways.

It is much more intelligent to cut ties with the bigger-name stars battling injuries, as well as players underperforming due to messy, unreliable QB play, because there are players sitting on the waiver wire who could bring you consistent, valuable fantasy points.

The following three players are excellent additions to consider that will bulk up your roster for a fantasy football championship run.

TE Martellus Bennett, New York Giants—Owned in 52 Percent of Yahoo! Fantasy Leagues

Martellus Bennett recorded at least 10 fantasy points in four games this season, and after his performance in Week 13, you can expect him to finish the year out strong. Bennett is a nearly unstoppable threat in the red zone because of his incredible size and catching ability.

The 25-year-old tight end needs to be targeted more by Eli Manning. Once Bennett gets more involved in the Giants offense, much like New England uses Rob Gronkowski, not only will his fantasy value rise, but New York will become a much more effective team.

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Last Monday against the Redskins, Bennett had a solid outing, making five receptions off seven targets for 82 yards and one touchdown.

You can expect the 6'6" beast of a tight end to gain some momentum with another explosive game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14. Bennett will take full advantage of the horrid Saints passing defense, which gives up an average of 286.7 yards per game.

In a crucial game for the New York Giants, with their playoff hopes beginning to slip away, Martellus Bennett will have a monster game and record at least 12 fantasy points.

No experts or analysts believed that rookie Russell Wilson would be as good as he has been so far this season. Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll instilled his confidence in the young Russell Wilson, and so far he has made the very most of it.

In his past four games, Wilson has scored a total of nine touchdowns and thrown zero interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears.

Russell Wilson has not only been a dream for Pete Carroll to coach, but he has also been a valuable fantasy football commodity if you were willing to take the risk of adding him early on. Wilson has recorded at least 16.92 Yahoo! fantasy points in the last five games and more than 20.75 fantasy points in three of those.

If you have been experiencing quarterback woes on your fantasy roster, whether your players have battled injuries or continuously struggled, then Russell Wilson can be your savior. With a balanced rushing attack to free up Russell Wilson in the pocket, the Seahawks offense should thrive for the rest of the season despite their opposition.

Danario Alexander is a big-time receiver who is probably one of the most underrated offensive players in the National Football League. As Alexander continues to gain trust from quarterback Philip Rivers, they could form one of the most dangerous combinations in football. Rivers has targeted the 6'5" freak a total of 36 times in the past four games, resulting in 23 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns.

The receiver position is one of the most difficult to select starters for in fantasy football because of the inconsistent performances from week to week and recurring injuries. If you decide to pick up Danario Alexander off of the waiver wire, you will not regret it whatsoever and it will improve your team dramatically.

Even though the Chargers go up against the gritty Pittsburgh Steelers this week, you can expect Danario Alexander to be the standout player for San Diego and a reliable target for Philip Rivers.